Wednesday Number Ones 5/29/08
Wednesday Number Ones is a weekly feature here at Comic Pants. We take the books that are premiering a first issue from that week and give a quick opinion on them. From time to time we may also include more than issue number ones in this feature. If a noteworthy one-shot or the first issue of a new story arc is released, we may talk about it in this feature.
This week, we will cover Angel Revelations #1, Batman Gotham After Midnight #1, Final Crisis #1, Firebreather Series #1, Marvel 1985 #1 and Zombie Tales #1.
Nick Budd Read and Thought:
Final Crisis #1 of 7
Writer: Grant Morrison
Artist: J.G. Jones
Company: DC Comics
Sigh…Well, that was about as close to a sucker punch of awful as you can get in almost every single way. I was actually looking forward to this one, hoping against hope that DC could find a way to reboot the fun. The reality is, is that isn’t what happened here at all. What is found instead is a mish-mash of odd stories, some that are interesting to one degree or another, and some that are just frustratingly vague (especially if you haven’t been keeping up with current DC continuity). They work on some level by themselves but when viewed as a whole, something seems oddly missing. Maybe that’s Morrison’s intent, and that he’s just slowly building up to something, but the inclusion of everything and the kitchen sink, while a style that can occasionally work for him, just makes this first issue feel too cluttered and blah. The art however, is fantastic. It’s been awhile since J.G. Jones has done interiors and with this one, I can almost see why. The level of detail that he packs into each panel rivals the likes of Bryan Hitch, and all of his characters, his Orion and Anthro the First Boy especially, are about as cool as you can get. That said, the awesomeness of the art isn’t enough to save the overall story from going South. This first issue should have been something memorable, something that started with a bang and made you sit up and actually care about what was going on. Sadly, that never happened, which isn’t how you want to start your big Summer spectacular.
Dave Farabee Read and Thought:
1985 #1 of 6
Writer: Mark Millar
Artist: Tommy Lee Edwards
Company: Marvel Comics
Hit and miss, but worth a look - that’s my quick take on 1985. The premise is something like The Neverending Story, with Marvel heroes and villains appearing in the “real world” to the astonishment of a young boy. The kid loves Marvel comics and he’s got his head in the clouds in the wake of his parents divorce - all the ingredients to make us unsure of whether he’s actually seeing these things or constructing some kind of elaborate fantasy world. It’s a neat hook, and the sequence that seems to explain what’s going on is the book at its best. Where the book founders is when Millar breaks from the suspense and tries to create a realistic sense of the era. There’s some pretty stagey comic shop geek talk, for example, and just because Millar references comics that were popular in ‘85 doesn’t mean the sequence rings true. That’s the case for all of the book’s dialogue, actually. It’s supposed to be 1985, supposed to evoke our real world, but I’m not feeling it, not believing it. Instead I found myself overly aware of his authorial manipulation - a standard Millar weakness. The art by Tommy Lee Edwards is very elegant photorealist stuff, rendered with clean, confident lines. It looks great and the storytelling’s strong. And yet…though it’s detailed, I still wasn’t feeling that 1985 vibe (and we’re talking my heyday for Marvel comics too). If the concept intrigues you, you’ll probably want to try the first issue. Millar’s plotting is interesting, his scripting and incidental writing much more tenuous.
Batman: Gotham After Midnight #1 of 12
Writer: Steve Niles
Artist: Kelley Jones
Company: DC Comics
I liked how the ad solicit for this one sounded. Here’s an excerpt: “These are the bizarre and frightening case files of the Dark Knight Detective, featuring grave-robbers, men making monsters, night terrors, and the debut of an all-new moonlight monster known only as Midnight.” Not bad. In execution, though, I was underwhelmed. The gist of this opening issue is that some of Batman’s creepier foes (the Scarecrow, for instance) are changing up their M.O….kinda/sorta. Some sort of manipulation from this new guy, Midnight? Probably. I have this feeling Niles might be going for his own “Long Halloween,” what with this being a big honkin’ 12-parter. It all felt a bit too pedestrian for the epic treatment though. Standard Batman grim narration, standard references to Arkham Asylum’s revolving door. On the art front, Kelly Jones is a talented stylist whose elongated musculatures leave me cold even as I admire his mastery of light and shadow. His Batmobile design may be the worst ever. Think “go-kart.” Readable enough, but almost certain to overstay its welcome over the course of twelve issues.
Dan Grendell Read and Thought:
Firebreather #1
Writer: Phil Hester
Artist: Andy Kuhn
Company: Image Comics
Back in 2003, Image launched a new superhero line that had some great books in it. Of them, Invincible was my favorite, and the only one to really prosper, but Firebreather was right up there, and I was always disappointed that it didn’t do well enough to continue. Five years later, it looks like Hester and Kuhn are giving it another go, and I’m thrilled. The book is about teenager Duncan, who has a human mother but whose father is an enormous alien dragon. Duncan is just trying to live his life, but he’s under constant pressure from his father to live up to his legacy and become a mighty killing machine. Hester kicks the new series off with a bang, introducing new readers to all the main characters and concepts while also setting up the overarcing plot and theme for stories to come. Kuhn does a fantastic job drawing both action and emotion, both of which are vital for a teenager like Duncan, and his harsh, angular lines are perfect for Duncan and his dad, though a bit odd on normal people. Still, this is a rarity- a smart, entertaining book getting a second chance- so here’s hoping readers find it this time around.
Randy Lander Read and Thought:
Angel Revelations #1
Writer: Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa
Artist: Adam Pollina
Company: Marvel Comics
Honestly, I was kind of mind-boggled that anyone would greenlight an Angel miniseries except in a silly attempt to cash in on that other Angel miniseries. After reading the first issue of this mopey, self-important mini, I’m even more mind-boggled. Pollina’s art used to be an odd favorite of mine, but like so many artists whose style is predicated on a stylized exaggeration, he’s taken the exaggeration too far and gone from outlandishly attractive to outlandishly ugly. Then there’s Aguirre-Sacasa’s plot, which ill-advisedly attempts to graft clumsy religious elements onto the story of the thoroughly secular Warren Worthington, and throws in a few familiar tropes about jocks, geeks and girls as well. It’s just kind of a bizarre mess, and I’m completely unsure who the target audience for this is. Whoever it is, it’s clear that I’m not among them.
Zombie Tales #1
Writers: Joe R. Lansdale, Steve Niles & Kim Krizan
Artists: Eduardo Barreto, Daniel LaFrance & Jon Reed
Company: Boom! Studios
Short stories are a tough nut to crack, but they’re a little easier in a well-established genre where the rules and conventions are known, and so Zombie Tales makes a fair amount of sense. By turning the played out nature of zombies in comics into an advantage, Boom! has created a venue for more unusual and experimental zombie stories. At least, in theory. Of the three stories in this inaugural issue, only one is truly experimental, and that’s Kim Krizan and Jon Reed’s dark mirror story of a world where humans are an underclass in a zombie society. It’s a little too cute at times, and doesn’t really have enough room to explore a promising premise, but it is a fun idea with some very darkly funny moments. Steve Niles and Daniel LaFrance turn in a fairly conventional story of a man hunting down a specific zombie, which is a little by-the-numbers but a perfectly solid effort. And the gem of the bunch is by Joe R. Lansdale and Eduardo Barreto (the best art in the book), which features some truly Lansdalian humor in a trio of maimed vets taking on zombies, with the requisite buxom nurse for cheesecake value. There’s not a ton of substance to these tales, nor are any of them so adventurous as to be must-reading, but they’re all solid, fun takes on the zombie genre.
1985? I was there. I read the preview on Newsarma, I call bullshit
No comic book specality shop in 1985 smalltown had a guy telling 12 year olds to “ADvance the medium by buying Dave sim” Lose me on that lose me on the rest
29 May 2008 at 1:36 pm
QuoteI was kind of hoping for more of a round-robin full Panteon review of the first issue of Final Crisis, like what was done with Secret Invasion. Maybe we can kind of get that in the comments?
29 May 2008 at 1:46 pm
QuoteI’m totally on the fence about Final Crisis. I pretty much skipped Infinite Crisis, read ish 1 or 2 but stopped and heard it was a wash. Reading 52 & Sinestro Corps War now and enjoying. I heard lots of bad stuff about Countdown so not sure what to do about FC. Send Hulk in there to beat everybody up!
29 May 2008 at 3:11 pm
QuoteSecond that! Getting some more comments- not anything lengthy
(thought of course the more the better) on the distinguished competition’s big event would be greatly appreciated.
Disappointed to hear about “After Midnight,” though, as Jones was the artist that actually brought me onto Batman.
29 May 2008 at 5:16 pm
QuoteI was mildly interested in the first few pages, went into skim mode about halfway through and finished up completely disinterested in reading any more.
DC may be heading for a trainwreck of epic proportions.
29 May 2008 at 7:05 pm
QuoteWell, I really enjoyed Final Crisis #1 overall and can’t wait to see where Morrison goes. Though not having read Countdown (or the original Crisis), the Monitor stuff wasn’t exactly as clear to me as I guess it would to others.
Looked great too.
29 May 2008 at 7:13 pm
QuoteLooks like somebody is fishing for a blurb on the TPB!
I’m in “trade only” mode now, but I’m really looking forward to 1985 and very excited that Firebreather is back (hopefully it makes it to trade).
29 May 2008 at 7:14 pm
QuoteHeh. I think if I could offer them a trade blurb, I’d offer this:
“Final Crisis? Seriously?”
29 May 2008 at 7:33 pm
Quotefor a second I thought id used that but mine was “yOUR KIDDING RIGHT
29 May 2008 at 9:00 pm
QuoteI’m surprised one panteon actually was looking forward to FC. After lacklustre first issue, I don’t think anyone panteon can get the energy to talking about it further. This is just proof that Didio needs to give up the mantle and let someone else take over and hopefully energized this poor performing company. Maybe Didio can be editor to Johnny DC titles, of course, he has to keep his bloodlust in check.
Seriously, the only DC titles (not counting Vertigo, since I think it’s better if Vertigo disconnect from DC and goes on its own like Image or Oni) worth getting are All-Star Superman and Blue Beetle (but Rogers left). Not surprised people here are already calling FC a flop on its first issue. And a shame too, since I’m a big Morrison fan. Oh well, looks like Batman RIP and FC will be seen as disappointments.
29 May 2008 at 9:19 pm
Quoteit always has stuck me as flatout weird to put morrison in charge of a huge crossover
29 May 2008 at 10:26 pm
QuoteI don’t mind if the not so big names writes a mega crossover. Greg Pak comes to mind who wrote a good crossover and he’s hasn’t got the status like Morrison, Bendis or Millar. But over at DC, they haven’t been that lucky, Amazon Attack anyone?
Want to know if Will Pfe… that guy who wrote the terrible Amazon Attack, Blue Beetle is worth getting? Or DC screwed (not for the first time) up by getting rid of John Rogers on the title?
29 May 2008 at 10:56 pm
QuoteApparently it’s a rough week for number ones. I’ll check out Zombie Tales on the basis of Lansdale and Barreto (I really dig his art), and may give Final Crisis a peek for Jones’ art. DC sure ain’t what it used to be.
I think Dan Didio is to the DCU what George W. Bush is to the USA. Can he be impeached or something?
30 May 2008 at 12:45 am
QuoteIt’s strange as there seems to be so much negativity about DC under Didio. I’m neither a DC or Marvel zombie in particular, but if someone asked me which of the two universes I currently enjoy more my instinct would be to say Marvel. When I look at the titles I collect though, I actually get more DC titles.
The Superman books look strong again with Johns and Frank on Action and Robinson upcoming on Superman. I find the Dini issues of Detetctive always worth a read. The Dixon Batbooks are solid fun, as is Nightwing under Tomasi. The Green Lantern books have strong teams in place and Wonder Wonder under Gail is a better read than anything we’ve had since Rucka left. Manhunter has just returned, and we have Secret Six from Simone and Justice League from Robinson coming. JSA under Johns is as good as ever, and I’m hoping that Sturges might be able to continue Rogers’ greatness on Blue Beetle. I’m always quietly optimisttic for JMS on Brave and the Bold and even Trinity. So while there have been plenty of misfires under Didio I still think the company have plenty of good things to offer.
30 May 2008 at 1:25 am
QuoteI don’t think everyone should be so quick to judge Final Crisis. I know talking about a comic is half of the fun…but I think Grant Morrison deserves a couple more issues before everyone is so quick to judge. I don’t think Grant is the type of writer who is going to give everyone what they want right away. I hope he tries to do something different rather than the usual “summer event fun” (with the big hook at the end of issue 1). I mean, we don’t need another Infinite Crisis.
For the record, I have not read Final Crisis 1. Uh, yeah, I also haven’t read any of the DCs lately, so I don’t know what’s going on. But I am a fan of Grant Morrison.
Also, is it normal to space out the issues like DC is doing with Final Crisis? I looked at the schedule and they are not coming out once a month. I guess you have to read all of the other comics to follow the story.
30 May 2008 at 1:27 am
QuoteRe: Final Crisis #1
Yikes…
I too was severely underwhelmed.
It was just like a really pretty issue of Countdown with all those splintered half-stories. And another needless “death”. Are they trying to answer the question: “How many people can die in the DCU before nobody cares anymore?” Because it sure seems that way.
There may be some good things going on in the DCU (Action, GL, WW), but good lord the first issue of Secret Invasion makes the first issue of FC look like straight-up uncut doo-doo.
I really hope Morrison’s going somewhere with all this…
First Indy4 and now this. What is this? Long awaited disappointment week?
30 May 2008 at 2:08 am
QuoteI would like to see DC get back on track, so the poor reviews FC is receiving is particularly disappointing. FC #1 has such a nice cover though… damn
Saw the preview pages for Manhunter and I am so looking forward to this.
I am down for Firebreather. It’s nice to be able to try this out in singles format. I expect it will live up to Deep Sleeper and continue the strong tradition that books like Invincible have set down. High hopes!
30 May 2008 at 5:11 am
QuoteI picked up FC #1 after reading Don MacPherson’s review. I had some optimism going in because of that, and because of the creators. What I felt as I was reading it was, “I’m missing things.” And not the “I’m missing things that will be revealed with fanfare later in the series” but the “i’m missing things cause I didn’t read ‘Countdown’ or ‘Death of the New Gods’ or ‘Teen Titans’ or ‘Birds of Prey’”. So I was disappointed.
I just spent an hour reading wikipedia articles on what happened to the New Gods in ‘Countdown’ and ‘Death of..’. What I noticed is that there is a part of me that cracks a smile.. that gets some delight outta some of these ideas. I feel like I really could be a total DC Universe geek. But.. but I also feel like I’m too far behind to ever get caught up.. and it would be disappointing because these universes go on and change and retool and relaunch.. and it would cost a bunch of money.
I read Morrison’s “7 Soldiers” in trade format.. so no waiting.. and I loved it. Absolutely loved it. More than anything, that’s why I had optimism for Final Crisis. It’s too bad.
30 May 2008 at 8:09 am
QuoteNo reference to the wrap up of Whedon’s run on Astonishing? AKA Giant-sized Astonishing X-Men #1?
Let me guess — you guys were so blown away, you’re working together to find the perfect words to craft your praise?
Here. Let me help. “Thank God it’s over.”
There. You’re welcome.
30 May 2008 at 8:32 am
QuoteJeebus, the FC hate is quite thick around here. I didn’t love it, but I did like it and am a little confused by the outright disdain it’s getting. I didn’t read Countdown or any of its tie-ins, so the stuff with the Monitors was a little foreign to me, but there’s nothing in the issue that you can’t intuit if you’ve been reading comics for any period of time. Everyone is in character and beautifully rendered, the dialogue is sharp and there’s fertile ground for themes to develop along with the plot. I loved the police procedural from both street level and space cop perspectives, the villain’s sniping was entertaining and there’s several ominous feeling mysteries established. I didn’t find anything here “frustratingly vague”; compare that to the 1st issue of Secret Invasion where I didn’t even know who some of the people BMB was checking in on were, let alone how they were significant. Anyway, it was a good start to one of these things for mine, and I just don’t see the arguments of those who are ready to call the whole project a failure based on this one issue.
But then, I mostly liked Giant-Sized Astonishing X-Men (I also think it will read better collected - Whedon and Cassady’s whole run should be treated as a breakneck couple of months in the lives of our protagonists, not the 4-5 year odyssey it ended up being published as) and found Firebreather a bit dull (I’m a big Hester fan, but I have not read any of the original series). So, it’s quite possible I’m just swimming upstream here at the Pants.
Thanks for the reviews.
30 May 2008 at 2:33 pm
QuoteThere’s an interesting review over at Savage Critics that speaks to many of the issues presented here regarding Final Crisis. Interesting read. I urge everyone to check it out.
(Just this once, of course, no one should ever go to any site other than Comic Pants!)
30 May 2008 at 2:58 pm
QuoteActually, I recommend you check out several review sites. Get multiple opinions of things. Any reviewer who thinks their opinion is the only one that matters is lost up their own ass.
That said, I appreciate the support.
30 May 2008 at 3:20 pm
QuoteI’ve heard constant negativity about Final Crisis since it was mentioned in San Diego last summer. I think a lot of people were going into this with their mind already made. It was an ok first issue. Not the best. Although the first few pages were really awesome leading into the detective noir style. I will reserve my judgement until more is revealed.
30 May 2008 at 3:41 pm
QuoteThat’s about where I am. I thought it was OK, and it’s Morrison, which means I need to see more than just one issue before I make any sort of call.
30 May 2008 at 3:43 pm
QuoteI would say this is the most reasonable review out of everyones here. The issue was all set up……..so I would imagine I am not supposed to get everything just yet. Its just one issue in and people are either raving about it or shitting on it.
30 May 2008 at 9:03 pm
QuoteHooray! I’m reasonable! Thanks, Arvind.
30 May 2008 at 10:56 pm
QuoteMy prediction for Final Crisis? Since it’s Morrison, it will start off really compelling and intriguing. Then, in the last 2 issues, it will completely go off the rails on the crazy train.
It’s just an unfortunate effect of chaos magic.
30 May 2008 at 11:28 pm
QuoteMaybe I’m being mean here, but it seems to me that if Final Crisis had been written by anyone other than Morrison, it would probably be getting an even chillier reception. Most of the comments I’ve heard that had something positive to say about Final Crisis are along the lines of “Yeah, it’s not perfect, but it’s Grant Morrison, and I trust him” or “It’s all setup, but the story will really kick in after a few issues.”
Let’s all remember that Morrison, for all the great stories he has written, has also fumbled the ball before. Particularly when it comes to bigger stories and endings. Much as I’m a fan of his JLA run, his New X-Men, parts of Seven Soldiers, I don’t think any of them ended all that well, and most of them lost coherency at one or more points during the run.
Usually Morrison starts off strong and ends weak. If he’s starting off weak, it’s a bad sign.
31 May 2008 at 12:42 am
QuoteMy full review is up http://www.howcomics.com
but it boils down to how many times can you sell “somthing’s wrong the univese is grouchy. If you really want that kind of story it’s kinda good enough
31 May 2008 at 5:48 pm
QuoteHere’s what I see about Final Crisis—
The same book, written the same way, but published by Marvel would get all kinds of praise as the best book of the month, and the best mini-series of the year.
Everybody loves a winner, and Marvel has won the biggest share of the marketplace, hence they get all the good reviews, too.
Newsarama is a prime example of this. Wizard Philly reports on Newsarama have 3 reports on DC, and about 9 on Marvel.
31 May 2008 at 11:09 pm
QuoteI’m nowhere near Philly, so I can’t speak to this- but how much presence do either have at that show? Did Marvel just do more round-table talks, etc.? Also possible DC just didn’t release that much news. I just don’t have the info, but Newsarama, while often being just a few steps away from Wizard’s “It’s all gonna be so good!” in its reviews, usually doesn’t steer too near either DC or Marvel, IMO.
01 Jun 2008 at 10:56 am
QuoteYou may be right in General but not in my case. I’m down to T-BOLTS and Nova. I only read All-star Superman and Hex from Dc NORMALLY but will pick up a DC that looks “ok” I will Not do that with Marvel becuse I just dont LIKE JQ and yes I think a lot of reviewers give Marvel RAVES for meh stories. I read guardins of the Galexy. was it ok? Sure was it as good as any random Marvel from 1983? Hell no.
Final crissis is ok too. but has the added drawback of feeling like another continutity Mambo.
01 Jun 2008 at 5:14 pm
QuoteI should say up front, Alan, that this is a general response to this kind of thing, and so I don’t mean it to be too harsh or insulting.
But y’know, I see this kind of thing, the “DC bias” or “Marvel bias” and generally… I don’t buy it.
For one thing, Marvel wouldn’t produce this same book, written this same way. Marvel wouldn’t produce a major event that its predicated on your having read two weekly series and two previous event miniseries, one that is almost entirely driven by past continuity.
Instead, they would produce a major event that loosely ties together events that, if you think hard about it, don’t make any sense, and use continuity in the sense that they make references to older characters but get the references wrong. The upside of this approach, of course, is that it’s much friendlier to new readers who don’t know the characters. DC Universe events assume that readers care about the DC Universe… Marvel Universe events assume that readers care about the Marvel characters.
I’m not saying either one is better or worse. I’m on record as disliking Identity Crisis and Avengers Disassembled about equally, and having the same amount of boredom and dislike toward Infinite Crisis and Civil War. But to imply that the only reason Final Crisis is being pilloried in some quarters is because of some imaginary bias against DC is insulting to those who genuinely dislike it for a number of perfectly good reasons.
And really, DC is one of the two companies dominating the industry. Neither they nor their fans really earn the victim mentality.
Oh, and on a different topic:
I’m really not sure what you’re smoking, Rob, but Guardians of the Galaxy was considerably better than a lot of random Marvel from 1983. Better than the best? Well, no, because Marvel was kind of kicking ass in 1983, and had some of their best runs ever on a number of characters. But as good as or better than the average? Yep, it’s that good. Just because you didn’t think so doesn’t mean other reviewers were giving it a pass because it was Marvel.
Actually, this is sort of a larger issue that irritates me. There’s a lot of second-guessing of reviewers’ motives. “Ah, he gave this book an 8. He must be friends with the writer!” “Oh, he gave that book a 3. He must hate all stories with Super Skrull in it!”
No. While every reviewer has biases, if we like a book, it’s probably not for any weird personal grudges or biases beyond “This is the kind of thing I like.” Adding in all these weird, borderline conspiratorial motivations is ridiculous.
01 Jun 2008 at 8:34 pm
Quote“I’m really not sure what you’re smoking, Rob, but Guardians of the Galaxy was considerably better than a lot of random Marvel from 1983. Better than the best? Well, no, because Marvel was kind of kicking ass in 1983, and had some of their best runs ever on a number of characters. But as good as or better than the average? Yep, it’s that good. Just because you didn’t think so doesn’t mean other reviewers were giving it a pass because it was Marvel.”
Nope not saying anybody gave it a pass saying Marvel’s current style speaks to a lot of people and while the plot was good the script was really not to my taste at all.
01 Jun 2008 at 10:14 pm
QuoteI haven’t read Morrison’s JLA or his New X-Men and I only read the first trade of Seven Soldiers. Therefore, maybe I’m in no position to comment, but I would like to point out something I noticed.
In Grant’s defense, I think one reason for some of Grant’s “weak endings” may be DC’s fault. There always seems to be a disconnect between DC and Grant.
For example, in the first trade of Animal Man, Grant claims that he wanted to write the first few arcs of Animal Man and then let other writers take it over. But then supposedly DC asked him to continue it rather than have another write come in. That is why there is a few random issues in the first trade of Animal Man before he continues on a story arc (ie “the Coyote Gospel”).
In addition, Grant claims in the first trade of Seven Soldiers that his idea was to start the series off with the issues that he wrote and then let other writers continue and develop it. Maybe let other writers continue the titles but the project became a single run with it ending with issue #1. Therefore, my hypothesis is that he did not even want to do the ending for Seven Soldiers.
So basically, I think sometimes Grant just wants to develop ideas and themes or a change in the universe and then have other writers come in and take over. But DC of course wants to stick with Grant writing so maybe he is not always 100% percent behind the ending of a project. Or who knows how often DC censors his ideas or forces him to change his direction. I don’t know.
02 Jun 2008 at 2:41 am
QuoteI don’t know too much about Morrison’s and DC’s personal relationship but I can definitely see him as an editor in the future simply because he is an idea man. His stories may be hit or miss but his concepts are always some of the brightest and most original in the industry.
But then again I could see him butting heads more times than often.
02 Jun 2008 at 4:13 am
QuoteIs this in the foreword to the trade? It would be amazing to me if this is what Morrison said - “The Coyote Gospel” is such an phenomenal issue (one of my favorite stories ever; it really opened my eyes to what comics could be when I was a teen) and so integral to creator/creation themes that make up the whole run.
This, however, makes perfect sense. I’ve read a number of interviews where Morrison talks about making the DCU “a living, breathing organism” that outlives creators and characters. Just look at the number of “based on ideas and concepts by Grant Morrison” books DC has published in the last few years. Plus, you know, (and I list him among my favorite writers in any medium) he’s done a lot of drugs and might be a little crazy.
02 Jun 2008 at 9:18 am
QuoteI was a bit disappointed by Final Crisis. I won’t say that it was badly written but it was only accessible on a certain level.
I read 52, pulled Countdown for 52 weeks (and if you Rogue’s Gallery guys laugh at me about that WE WILL HAVE WORDS!! lol), read quite a few minis, trades, and have a few DC titles on my pull list. Even with all of that, I felt like it was a generic on the surface. Only after reading the issue did I go to the boards for spoilers and commentary and realized that I missed much of the nuance that was probably intended. I really feel like Countdown didn’t really prepare me for FC.
I wasn’t looking for a complete wrap-up or a one-shot for the first issue but I expected that spending a couple of years reading DC would have made me a bit more of an “insider”. I still didn’t get a lot of the inside stuff.
But I will agree with Nick on the art. The book was very pleasant on the eyes.
02 Jun 2008 at 2:19 pm
QuoteFinal crissis?
1. LOVE the opening art
2 Libra is fun that’s a stong selling point
3. New god histroy just got very confused (to the point where I THINK it might be some “Meta-thing’ as in “evreyone in this story has seen the universe restart three times thier a little shakey even on their own history” IF that’s true that’s a big minus for me becuse I feel that’s like saying “you know the histroy you need to know to understand why this is imortant? Good well some happened some did’nt hope that won’t bug you.
4 the green lantren stuff was fun! I wanna read the GL penal code.
5. Without spoilers what makes or beaks next issuse how they handle the HUGE thing they just sort of toss in at the end
02 Jun 2008 at 3:21 pm
QuoteI should say, despite my utter boredom with both Final Crisis so far and Morrison’s Batman run, he’s still one of my all-time favorite writers. But I actually dislike him in this sort of editor role, where he throws out ideas for others to run with. For me personally, I’m a fan of Morrison more when he’s not collaborating with other writers or deeply into the continuity. I like him more off to the side, like with New X-Men, where he was redefining a whole corner of the universe for himself. Even Seven Soldiers, which I found flawed, was among his better works because it wasn’t mired in DC continuity.
Usually someone spinning off from Morrison ideas results in watered-down Morrison, which doesn’t do anybody any favors. I’d love it if, after Final Crisis, Morrison did something a little more “off to the side.” Say a new ground-up re-imagination of OMAC, or a new Vertigo book, or hell, give him All Star Batman and Robin and let him remake that in the spirit of All Star Superman for a 12-issue run. Basically, something fun and free of “If you want to understand this, read a dozen other books and oh yeah, the DC Universe is alive! Booga booga!”
I should also say that I have a huge respect for Morrison. I’ve met a fair number of comic creators, but there are only a few that have made me nervous. Morrison was one of them, although it turns out he’s so much easier to talk to, down to Earth and friendly than you’d think. The dude is definitely “one of us,” rockstar looks and lifestyle nothwithstanding.
But here’s a key thing with Final Crisis, and Countdown, and really almost everything DC Universe-related: It’s not just the creative team in the credits doing the writing. It’s very clear that there’s an executive editorial team (or at least one person) handing down dictates to make sure there’s a body count, and continuity references, etc., etc.
I think there are a lot of bad ideas involved in the foundation coming from the editorial side, and that’s poisoning the work of usually much stronger creators.
I’ve been seeing this kind of thing online, from both sides. Folks who didn’t read Countdown feel a bit lost because story elements are being referenced, folks who did read Countdown are feeling a bit lost because the references don’t really line up with what they already read in Countdown.
It seems like the worst of both worlds, in terms of continuity use.
Weirdly, all this discussion of Morrison and events is making me want to go back and reread all of Seven Soldiers in trade, something I never got around to doing.
02 Jun 2008 at 10:11 pm
QuoteI think people are too used to major events having to have big, huge, crack-the-intertube-in-half twists every other page. (I think I counted 6 of those in Secret Invasion #1). Final Crisis won’t be that kind of comic, and I say Thank God for that.
I loved Final Crisis #1. Morrison’s take on Turpin was worth the price alone. And I don’t think you need to read Countdown or Death of the New Gods to understand it. I stayed away from those comics with a ten-foot pole and I understood what was going on. Though maybe we could’ve used a little more context for the Monitor scene, but I think Morrison got the idea across that Nix let his Earth be destroyed and that’s why he was being punished.
02 Jun 2008 at 10:28 pm
QuoteI think it was ok better than infinte crissis i’m in for two
02 Jun 2008 at 11:07 pm
QuoteMaybe Morrison is doing it diffrently this time, like he’s starting weak and finishing strongly.
I read on Rich Johnston’s LITG that DC snubbing some Wizard conventions because they are not getting any love http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=15809 I don’t know if that’s true so you argue amongst yourselves.
Eh, what’s this talk of Morrison Animal Man’s ending badly? I’m glad Morrison didn’t cut short on the series cause his last issue of AM was amazing and tear jerking.
If drugs make him write great titles like All-Star Superman, 7 Soldiers, Invisibles, We3, etc. they are a lot of writers out there that should be shooting up then.
03 Jun 2008 at 3:06 am
QuoteI found Final Crisis to be a bit disappointing, but I am intrigued. I expect it will at least tell its own story, whereas Infinite Crisis was just a convergence of events forced together by characters that didn’t seem to need to come back. I am interested in all of the characters that Morrison has presented, I just still don’t really know what the book is about.
How short are the memories of those who say Morrison does not deserve an epic cross over. DC One Million was hands down my favorite cross over from any company of all time. True, it did destroy or rebuild the multiverse (and look how long-lasting that is), but it introduced new characters, worked as a stand alone and as a cross over, and it wasn’t pointlessly dark. Granted the death of all of the New Gods and the other senseless, punk death in the issue of Final Crisis do not bode well, but it is so much better than most of what else DC is putting out.
No opinions of Astonishing X-Men this week? Maybe a podcast or column discussing the whole run?
03 Jun 2008 at 5:21 am
QuoteCountdown Spoilers ahead.
I read 52…loved it.
I endured Countdown. In #1 there is this epic (boring? weak? underwhelming?) battle between Orion and Darkseid. It was ok.
But the whole JLA INCLUDING Superman was there. Supes tells them it’s Orion’s fight and to stand down. Whatever.
Anyway, Orion staggers off at the end and Darkseid is dead (uh huh…again, whatever) from having his heart ripped out. Orion is clearly on his last leg and they just let him go suposedly to wander off and die.
In FC…why the HELL is everyone calling for a lockdown of the planet because someone has killed a Orion??!!! The freaking Guardians send in the corps shock troops to lock down Earth because a New God was killed (deiticide or something).
Uh huh…
1) Where the hell were they when ALL the other New Gods died? All of New Genisis and Apokalypse…dead.
2) The JLA acts like the death of Orion is some big mystery…ummm, they were at the thrice damned fight! Hello? Is this thing on?
I could not make heads or tales of FC.
It’s enough to make me want to buy a black and white zombie comic.
I think I’ll have to reread The Great Darkness Saga just to wash my brain out.
Until then, make mine ANYTHING but FC!
Nuff said.
03 Jun 2008 at 10:38 am
QuoteI may give FC another couple of issues but it will probably take only a few more comments from people telling me I’m “stupid and have poor reading comprehension” for me to simply avoid the title.
Well, fan reaction really doesn’t play that much into my purchases but there does seem to be a lot of animosity against those that are complaining. Sometimes, Morrison’s biggest fans are the worst people to market his stuff.
03 Jun 2008 at 11:25 am
QuoteAre you suggesting some kind of Bizarro Morrison? Such a thing would be unstoppable!
As I recall, I thought Animal Man was one of the strongest (possibly the strongest) ending he’s written. I also liked the ending of We3 quite a bit.
And there *are* things I like a lot about the last arc of JLA (everyone getting superpowers is kind of cheesy, but in a good way) and penultimate arc of New X-Men. (If you treat that last arc as the ending and just ignore “Here Comes Tomorrow,” the whole thing works a lot better.)
I think one of the things getting lost in the kneejerk “Final Crisis will be great! Don’t you remember how great Grant Morrison is?” defense is this:
I *love* a lot of Grant Morrison’s work. This makes me more disappointed in Final Crisis, not less. Because if I wind up not liking Final Crisis, which seems reasonably likely given my lukewarm reaction to issue one, it means that this is something Morrison put all his time into *instead* of writing something else I might have loved. So I’m disappointed that DC’s latest spine of the universe event was weak, *and* I’m disappointed that Morrison’s latest effort was weak.
I am still going to read at least another issue or two, to give it it’s fair shake… but I’m honestly more excited to read the next issue of Robin, or Nightwing, or Batman & The Outsiders, than I am to read Final Crisis #2.
03 Jun 2008 at 12:31 pm